08/14/2026
!!STAY TICK AWARE!!
- Ticks are common in Kansas, and a natural part of the environment. If you spend time outdoors you will encounter ticks.
-Ticks can cause diseases such as Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Heartland virus, Bourbon virus, alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease.
-Prevent tick bites:
**DRESS**
- Wear light-colored long shirts and pants.
- Treat clothing with permethrin before spending extended periods outdoors.
**DEFEND**
- Use EPA-registered insect repellants.
- Avoid brushy areas and stay in the middle of trails.
- Shower when returning indoors.
- Heat clothes in dryer at high heat for 10 minutes.
- Use vet recommended tick preventatives for pets. NEVER use insect repellents on animals.
- Keep your yard tick free by keeping grass and bushes trimmed, removing fallen leaves, stacking wood in dry areas, keeping bins tightly lidded, having a 3-foot widewood chip or gravel barrier between your lawn and wooded areas, keeping wildlife out
and positioning recreational areas away from yard edges.
**DETECT**
- Check yourself, children and pets from ticks.
- REMOVE any ticks quickly and safely: Grasp the tick close to the skin, pull upwards evenly without twisting. Wash hands and the bite site. Don't use nail polish, petroleum jelly, essential oils, or heat.
-Call your DOCTOR if you develop a fever, rash, or flu-like illness within 30 days after tick exposure. Early treatment can prevent severe illness.
-Learn about ticks in Kansas: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2241/Ticks
-Learn about tickborne diseases: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/57611/Tickborne-DiseasesInfographic-PDF
